Labs
Advanced Thermal Solutions Lab
Researching innovative solutions across heat transfer fields, from thermal energy storage to heat sinks for electronics and fusion energy components, using innovative materials and manufacturing techniques.
Experimental Facilities
• Test rig for heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops measurement of two-phase refrigerants inside mini microfin tubes.
• Test rig for heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops on innovative, micro- and nano-structured composite materials.
• Experimental set-up for the study of PCM associated with metal foams or nanoparticles for thermal storage and electronics cooling.
• Experimental set-up for measuring the thermal conductivity of 3D printed metals.
• Experimental set-up for optimized geometries with metal additive manufacturing and PCM thermal energy storage at room temperature.
• Experimental set-up for electronics cooling with PCM at room temperature.
• Experimental set-up for the study of 3D printed conformal cooling channels in fusion energy components.
Two-Phase Heat Transfer
Experimentation and simulation of heat transfer with fluids during phase change, CFD modelling (Fluent, OpenFOAM), and the development of heat transfer models for heat exchanger design.
Experimental Facilities
• Air tunnel for measuring the heat transfer in finned coils. • Test bench for analyzing the performance of water/water heat pumps.
• Resistance thermometers and thermocouples with physical reference at 0 °C.
• Mass and volumetric flow meters.
• Pressure transducers.
• Thermostatic baths.
• Instruments for the calibration of temperature and pressure sensors.
• Hot-wire anemometer.
• IR thermocamera.
• High-speed camera.
• System for measuring contact angles.
Refrigeration and Heat Pump Technologies
Experimental analysis of heat pump and chiller performance and their components, combined with the development of physical models for simulating the operation of heat pumps and refrigeration systems.
Experimental Facilities
• Air tunnel for measuring the heat transfer in finned coils.
• Test bench for analyzing the performance of water/water heat pumps.
• Resistance thermometers and thermocouples with physical reference at 0 °C.
• Mass and volumetric flow meters.
• Pressure transducers.
• Instruments for the calibration of temperature and pressure sensors.
• Electrical power analyzer.
• Gas chromatograph for analyzing the composition of refrigerants.
• Helium leak detector.
Nano Heat Transfer Lab
Researching innovative solutions to enhance two-phase heat transfer through advanced materials, nano-depositions, nano-coatings, surface treatments, and enhanced nano- and micro-geometries.
Experimental Facilities
• Test rig for heat transfer coefficients measurement during nucleated boiling on metal foams and nano-deposited surfaces.
• Experimental set-up to produce nanoparticle depositions by nucleate boiling of nanofluids.
• Experimental set-up for the study of phase change materials (PCM) associated with metal foams or nanoparticles to improve thermal storage efficiency and electronic component cooling.
• Experimental set-up for measuring the contact angle (wettability) of fluids on surfaces at room temperature.
Solar Energy Conversion
Development and characterisation of innovative solar receivers and collectors, including volumetric nanofluid receivers, flat collectors, evacuated tubes, hybrid thermal-PV devices, and linear concentration systems. Development of thermal storage systems with phase change materials.
Experimental Facilities
• Rig for tests on flat solar collectors and evacuated tubes.
• Linear concentrator with parabolic mirrors, carrying a circuit for testing different types of receivers.
• Circuit for tests on volumetric receivers using nanofluids.
• Pyranometers and pyrheliometer on sun-tracker for measuring global, diffuse, and direct normal irradiance.
• Device for plotting the I–V curve of PV modules.
• Test rig for the study of thermal storage with phase change materials.
• Resistance thermometers and thermocouples with physical reference at 0 °C.
• Mass and volumetric flow meters.
• Pressure transducers.
• Instruments for the calibration of temperature and pressure sensors.
• Electrical power analyzer.